The Profitable Detail Shop

DavidB · 10-20-09, 02:53

Was looking through Amazon today and saw this:

Amazon.com: The Profitable Auto Detail Shop - How to Start and Run a Successful Auto Detailing Business (9780615226873): J. M. Cook: Books

Anyone have a copy?

vtec92civic · 10-20-09, 03:17

nice find. seems like it might be more so for a bulk detailing type business but im sure there is some good information that we can all learn from or use.

Seems that below that too they have several other books.

Jakerooni · 10-20-09, 03:45

well who is JM Cook and what are his creditials? I honestly think though if you want to make it big in the detailing world you need to go high volume. It's really where the money is. There's a few standouts that can probably claim they live in a 14 bedroom house overlooking the ocean driving around in their ferrari all on detailing dollars but for the most part it's a way to make a couple of ends meet and not much more. But to run a high volume shop you need to think like a businessman and not so much like a detailer.

silvSS03 · 10-20-09, 04:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakerooni

well who is JM Cook and what are his creditials? I honestly think though if you want to make it big in the detailing world you need to go high volume. It's really where the money is. There's a few standouts that can probably claim they live in a 14 bedroom house overlooking the ocean driving around in their ferrari all on detailing dollars but for the most part it's a way to make a couple of ends meet and not much more. But to run a high volume shop you need to think like a businessman and not so much like a detailer.

Good point!!

vtec92civic · 10-20-09, 04:20

yeah but at the same time most not all but most bulk detailing facilities don't do very good jobs.

I have had numerous people complain about the bulk guy here and from what i have seen in california a lot of the places just end up cutting corners to get the car in and out . . . . . . though i am sure that there are some people who run legit bulk detailing shops.

SilverQx4 · 10-20-09, 04:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtec92civic

yeah but at the same time most not all but most bulk detailing facilities don't do very good jobs.

I have had numerous people complain about the bulk guy here and from what i have seen in california a lot of the places just end up cutting corners to get the car in and out . . . . . . though i am sure that there are some people who run legit bulk detailing shops.

Same is pretty much true here in Charleston. All the speedy detail shops here have left cars with nasty scratches from washing with dirty water to not using clean drying cloths. Not all are like this but speed is #1 priority in most places.

toyotaguy · 10-20-09, 04:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakerooni

well who is JM Cook and what are his creditials? I honestly think though if you want to make it big in the detailing world you need to go high volume. It's really where the money is. There's a few standouts that can probably claim they live in a 14 bedroom house overlooking the ocean driving around in their ferrari all on detailing dollars but for the most part it's a way to make a couple of ends meet and not much more. But to run a high volume shop you need to think like a businessman and not so much like a detailer.

well put!!! I have come to realize that I am a good technician, but a crappy businessman! I need to work on that, but when you are trying to run a business, operate a business, work a night job, and balance life, its a little tough!

plus with the economy, lower dollar details are a plenty, but the higher dollar stuff not so much! I think I need to come up with a low budget company to offer 100 details instead of pitching the $60/hr correction work to the regular DD cars!!!

vtec92civic · 10-20-09, 05:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyotaguy

well put!!! I have come to realize that I am a good technician, but a crappy businessman! I need to work on that, but when you are trying to run a business, operate a business, work a night job, and balance life, its a little tough!

plus with the economy, lower dollar details are a plenty, but the higher dollar stuff not so much! I think I need to come up with a low budget company to offer 100 details instead of pitching the $60/hr correction work to the regular DD cars!!!

understandable but at the same time when the vehicle isn't done properly with correction the end results just never feels the same. I feel pretty bad at the end knowing the end results could have been so much better but i did what the customer asked for you know.

bufferbarry · 10-20-09, 05:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtec92civic

understandable but at the same time when the vehicle isn't done properly with correction the end results just never feels the same. I feel pretty bad at the end knowing the end results could have been so much better but i did what the customer asked for you know.

Just remember 90% of people could actually care about paint correction.

Flashtime · 10-20-09, 05:23

Quote:

well put!!! I have come to realize that I am a good technician, but a crappy businessman! I need to work on that, but when you are trying to run a business, operate a business, work a night job, and balance life, its a little tough!

It's very tough... I plan on being a better business man myself. Something
I should have been trying all along. Too busy working in the shop and not
on the shop... And for 2010, the business will be priority.

Renew Detailing · 10-20-09, 05:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtec92civic

understandable but at the same time when the vehicle isn't done properly with correction the end results just never feels the same. I feel pretty bad at the end knowing the end results could have been so much better but i did what the customer asked for you know.

I know what you mean!! I just did a saturn outlook last weekend that had swirls all over but the customer didn't want a buff.

vtec92civic · 10-20-09, 05:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renew Detailing

I know what you mean!! I just did a saturn outlook last weekend that had swirls all over but the customer didn't want a buff.

how did you personally feel at the end when things were all said and finished? I always feel like i messed up, or should provide the service anyways (though i won't for free be correcting a vehicle) it's just the way that i feel.

Everyone here who details and corrects knows what can be done and the results if it isn't done is usually sub par.